Kat Martin - Against the Sun

Millions of lives are on the line. But for him, only one truly matters.

It’s not in bodyguard Jake Cantrell’s job description to share his suspicions with his assignments. Beautiful executive Sage Dumont may be in charge, but Jake’s not on her payroll. As a former special forces marine, Jake trusts his gut, and it’s telling him there’s something off about a shipment arriving at Marine Drilling International. His instinct is aroused…in more ways than one.

A savvy businesswoman, Sage knows better than to take some hired gun’s “hunch” as gospel. And yet she is learning not to underestimate the man her grandfather hired to protect her. Determined to prove Jake wrong, Sage does some digging of her own and turns up deadly details she was never meant to see.

Drawn into a terrifying web of lies and deceit—and into feelings they can’t afford to explore—what Jake and Sage uncover may be frighteningly worse than they ever imagined.

Selected praise for

The Raines of Wind Canyon

Against the Wind

“This is definitely a page-turner full of compassion and love

shared by two unlikely souls. This is a ‘don’t miss’ read.…

Kat Martin is a very gifted writer who takes you from the beginning to the end in total suspense.”

—Fresh Fiction

“Kat Martin has delivered yet another rockin’

romantic suspense. Stockpiled with suspense and passion,

Against the Wind kept me reading, dying to find out the truth.…

I’ll be intently waiting for Jackson’s brothers’ upcoming stories.

I can’t recommend [it] highly enough!”

—Joyfully Reviewed

“With the first novel of her new Raines of Wind Canyon trilogy, Martin brings us a rugged hero, a strong-willed heroine and a story filled with romance, grit, tension and suspense set in the Wyoming mountains. Martin definitely delivers.”

—RT Book Reviews

“Per her usual, Ms. Martin not only writes a highly entertaining book; in Against the Wind she also tackles some major social issues in the process…this book will not disappoint.”

—Romance Readers Choice

Against the Fire

“After reading the first book about the Raines brothers,

I knew Kat Martin would have to do something pretty amazing to make her second book as much of a joy to read.

As soon as I opened the book, I realized that she has succeeded…I simply loved this book.

I didn’t want to put it down.”

—Suspense Romance Writers

“There’s something irresistible about a bad boy.…

There’s lots of sizzle and burn—and it’s not all from

a mysterious arsonist—when Gabe meets the fiery and surprising Mattie. This sexy page-turner is a perfect blend of romance, mystery and action.”

—RT Book Reviews

“Right from the opening scene of Against the Fire, readers will be pulled into the heart-stopping action…[and] hold their breath as each fire brings even more danger for Mattie and Gabe.…

A fascinating page-turner, one you won’t want to miss.”

—Romance Reviews Today

Against the Law

“Once you start Against the Law, be prepared not to stop

until you’ve reached the end. With its nonstop action,

nail-biting episodes mixed with some sizzling love scenes,

this is one I highly recommend.”

—Romance Reviews Today

“4 ½ quills! Ms. Martin has struck the motherload…

Against the Law is by far the most powerfully intense

romantic suspense with its charismatic characters,

[and] a story line that defies gravity.”

—Romantic Crush Junkies

“An amazing story line that will keep you enthralled.”

—Night Owl Romance

Against the Storm

“As you might suspect from any Kat Martin book,

this is gloriously suspenseful, magnificent reading

and filled with hot and wonderful passion. Martin is superb!”

—Romance Reviews Magazine

“Truly a gifted author, I’ve never read a book by Kat Martin that wasn’t immediately headed for my keeper shelf. Historical or contemporary, she’s a must read for me. With Against the Storm she proves once again why I keep coming back for more.”

—Joyfully Reviewed

“Fans of Martin’s Raines of Wind Canyon trilogy are going to love meeting more of his testosterone-and-honor-laden family…the romantic suspense is tautly compelling and the psychological terror ratchets up with each red herring. Readers aren’t going to be able to put the light out until the last page.”

—RT Book Reviews

www.mirabooks.co.uk

To the FBI, DEA, ICE and other agencies

of Homeland Security, and the men and women

who work so hard to keep us safe.

Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty-One

Chapter Twenty-Two

Chapter Twenty-Three

Chapter Twenty-Four

Chapter Twenty-Five

Chapter Twenty-Six

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Chapter Thirty

Chapter Thirty-One

Chapter Thirty-Two

Chapter Thirty-Three

Chapter Thirty-Four

Chapter Thirty-Five

Epilogue

Author’s Note

One

Middle East Unrest Travels to Houston

One Dead in Protests.

Jake Cantrell turned off the engine of his Jeep and glanced over at the front page of the Houston Chronicle lying on the passenger seat. The headline in the morning paper was a reminder of why he was there, parked in front of the mirrored-glass, fourteen-story Marine Drilling International building.

It was still hot as Hades today, the first of September, the sun and humidity baking him in his navy blue suit and white shirt as he strode toward the wide concrete steps leading up to the front doors. The clothes were the worst part of a protection detail—wearing a jacket and tie instead of the jeans and T-shirts he lived in most of the time. But the pay was top-notch and he’d been getting more and more restless sitting behind a desk at Atlas Security, handling the day-to-day management of the company while the owner, his best friend, Trace Rawlins, and Trace’s wife, Maggie, were off on an extended honeymoon in Australia.

Jake was damn glad they were finally home.

Pushing through the heavy glass doors, he entered the lobby, icy-cold in comparison to the wet heat outside. He headed for the bank of elevators and stepped inside one, pushed the button for the twelfth floor, then waited through the ride to the executive level.

The time hands on his heavy steel wristwatch said he was a few minutes early for his ten o’clock appointment with Ian Dumont, the founder of Marine Drilling, CEO and chairman of the board. The family-owned business, originally Dumont Drilling, had been in oil production since the fifties, when Ian had made his first big strike along the Gulf Coast.

Today, they were mostly in offshore oil and gas production, thus the name change to Marine Drilling International. The Dumont family was well-known in Houston society, with big money and everything that went with it.

Walking out of the elevator, he made his way across shiny black granite floor to the reception desk, where his shoes sank into thick gray carpet. The waiting area was all black leather sofas and chairs, the desk itself smooth dark walnut and chrome. Nothing but the best for the Dumonts.